A tri-town tradition: Veterans Day parade to be held Nov. 11

Friday

Oct 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 30, 2009 at 8:10 PM

Supporting the troops will be in the forefront of everyone’s minds as they head out to this year’s tri-town Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. The tri-town parade draws participants and spectators from Abington, Rockland and Whitman. The towns are on a revolving schedule as to who hosts the event.

Seth Jacobson

Supporting the troops will be in the forefront of everyone’s minds as they head out to this year’s tri-town Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m.

The tri-town parade draws participants and spectators from Abington, Rockland and Whitman. The towns are on a revolving schedule as to who hosts the event.

This year, it’s Abington’s turn.

Rockland Veterans Agent Anton Materna said this is the 56th year of the parade.

“I look forward to it every year,” he said.

“This year, we’re dedicating the parade to all the men and women fighting the global war on terror,” added Abington Veterans Agent Joe Colantoni.

The parade’s Grand Marshall is James Garrison, a Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II veteran.

The parade will begin at the Abington Highway Department/police station at 215 Central St. in Abington. From there, the parade will take a right onto Washington Street, a right onto Adams Street, and a right onto North Avenue. The parade will end on Railroad Street.

“We’re just praying for good weather,” Materna said, noting the parade will happen rain or shine.

After all these years, Colantoni said the three towns are still on the same page regarding the parade.

“We all still work very well together,” Colantoni said. He added a committee is formed between the three towns, noting just because a given town is hosting the parade, that does not mean that particular town is “running the show.”

“People from each town give their input on the parade,” Colantoni said.

“We continue to work well together each year,” Materna agreed. “It’s really an effective way to honor our veterans.”

Colantoni said the tri-town committee is still looking for floats, people to march in the parade and participants in general.

“We want to make this one a big one,” Colantoni said. “Even if you just feel like marching down the street with us, just come out.”

He stressed it’s important to support the troops in what he feels is getting to be a “confusing war for our troops to fight.”

“I hate to say it, but I’m starting to compare this war to Vietnam,” Colantoni said. “We support the war and we support our guys, but our leaders don’t even know the direction we’re going in this war. How are our troops supposed to feel?

“I think the American people are growing wary of this war. Here we are eight years into it and we still don’t have a direction. Are we going to be in Afghanistan for the next 20 years? Our young men and women are dying over there and they are the cream of the crop. Is it worth it? I’m starting to have my doubts.”

Whitman will host the parade next year, as Rockland hosted last year’s event.

For more information, contact Joe Colantoni, director of Abington Veterans’ Services, at 781-982-00556 or jcolantoni@abingtonmass.com, and Bill Jones, commander of Abington V.F.W. Post 5737, at 508-272-2278 or wfj1148@aol.com.

Rockland Standard

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